Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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248. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the review and renew of the national development plan relating to the way in which consideration will be given to a high speed rail network for Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Limerick in the national development plan will be extended to other counties such as Galway. [36713/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Deputy is aware that the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future commits toward a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland and I believe that rail has a strategic role to play in achieving that change.

My Department, in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland, is currently developing terms of reference for a proposed study of rail speeds and the opportunities for high-/higher-speed rail on the wider network, where appropriate.  The finalised terms of reference  will take appropriate consideration of the need for balanced regional development and the strategic potential of rail.  

This will be a significant study which will of course be considered in the review of the National Development Plan and I look forward to it commencing.